Rendering apparatus.



No. 67|,380. Patented Apr. 2, l90l. H. A HOGEL.

RENDERING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 20. 18994) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-S heet I.

flms warms 0a., morauru No. 67!,380. Patented Apr. 2, l90l. H. A. HOGEL.

RENDERING APPARATUS.

(Application filedOct. 20, 1899.} (No Model.) 3 Shear-Sheet 2.

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No. 67l,380. Patented Apr. 2, 190i.

H. A. HUGEL.

RENDERING APPARATUS.

(No Modal.) (Applicatwmfiled Oct. 20, 1899.. 3 sheets sheet 3- THE nonmsPEYERS 00.. moYau'mo" WASHINGTQN, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HASOAL A. HOGEL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

RENDERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 671,380, dated April2, 1901.

Application filed October 20, 1899. Serial No. 734,222. (No model.)

To 0]], whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HASOAL A. HOGEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, New York, have invented an Improved Apparatus forReducing Garbage, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improved apparatus for reducing garbage, wherebysuch reduction is facilitated and cheapened and the products renderedmore valuable.

My invention is fully described and illustrated in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereofbeing specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating myinvention, wherein the same letters refer to the same parts throughoutthe different views.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an endelevation. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is anelevation of a drainage-tube. Fig. 5 is a section of the same, showingthe footpiece in plan view. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through theexhauster.

In the practical application of my invention I em ploy one or moredigesters or receptacles A of adequate strength and capacity, areceiving-tank B, and the exhausters O and D. The digesters, of which,any requisite number may be employed, are connected to thereceiving-tank B by a pipe or pipes G, provided with a valve or valvesJ, preferably of the straightway type. The receiving-tank may beprovided with any suitable valved discharge or outlet opening K. Thedigesters are made of any suitable dimensionssay seven feet in diameterand fifteen to eighteen feet highand of sufficient strength to stand asteam-pressure of one hundred pounds or more. Each of the digesters isprovided with a suitable manhole E, through which the garbage or othermaterial is introduced, and a discharge or outlet manhole F. Theseopenings are closed in any suitable or preferredmannerduringthedigestingoperation. Each digester may be provided with asteam-jacket I-I, applied in any ordinary or preferred manner and madeof sufficient strength to carry steam of high pressure.

The digesters are upper part of each of the digesters.

supported in place in any convenient way, and they may be arranged inany suitable relation with the receiving-tank. Provision is made forintroducing steam into the upper portions of the digesters by the pipesN and into their bottoms by the pipes P. The digesters are provided withperforated false bottoms 0, arranged, preferably, on a level with thelower edge of the manhole-opening F and supported, if necessary, by therings, studs, or other devices Q. This perforated plate performs thefunctions of a strainer and is provided with perforated pipes Z, whichare placed upright on the perforated plate 0. These tubes or pipes areclosed and made conical at their upperends and open at the bottom and,being perforated with a series of suitable openings, afford channelsthrough which the liquids find their Way to the space below the falsebottom. able number of these tubes may be employed, and they may bearranged in any suitable manner. They are made of such dimensions thatthey may be removed and replaced through the manhole F. Any suitablearrangement may be employed to secure these tubes in the uprightposition during the process of filling-such, for instance, as the deviceshown in Figs. 4 and 5, which consists of the straps W, bent to theproper shape and riveted together at their ends to form the triangularsupport X.

Inside the lower end of the digester the perforated cylinder L may beplaced. This cylinder is smaller in diameter than the inner shell of thedigester, thus leaving an anlar space outside of the cylinder and withinthe saidshell, and this annularspace is closed at the top by the annularplate M and open at the bottom through the perforations in the plat-e O.This perforated cylinder serves to assist in the separation of theliquids from the solid matter, the liquids passing through theperforations into the annular space and then through the plate 0 to thepipe G.

S S are the steam-pipes through which steam is introduced into thejacket H and any condensation discharged.

0 represents an exhauster or vacuum-producing device of any suitable orpreferred construction, one of which is applied to the Any Anysuitsuitable vacuum-pump or other similar d evice may be employed forthis purpose; but in the construction shown I have represented anexhauster operated by a steam or water jet of substantially theconstruction shown in the sectional view, Fig. 6, in which aspindle-valve U controls the discharge of steam or water supplied bypipes V or V into theinterior of the exhauster, into which air or gasesare drawn by the jet through the passage W to be discharged through Xinto any suitable cond uit or locality. I prefer to'em ploy a vacuum ofat least twenty inches.

Y represents a series of plug or other suitable valves attached to thereceiving-tank B at different levels and serving to draw ofi the greaseor other liquid substances separated from the garbage by the digestion.Pipes Y enter the digesters, as shown in Fig. 1, through which pipesgrease may be drawn off during the process of digestion.

D is an exhauster applied to the receivingtank 13. The exhausters arepreferably connected to large pipes I I, attached to the digesters andthe receiving-tank to prevent any of the substances being operated onfrom being drawn into the exhausters. These pipes may also be providedwith strainers i. It will be observed that the exhausters'are pro videdwith suitable supply-pipes V, V, V and V connections, and valves, sothat they may be operated by either steam or water under pressure. Theexhausters receive steam through the pipes V and V and water underpressure through the pipes V and V By turning steam of, say, fifty toone hundred pounds pressure into the exhauster I can produce a vacuum ofat least twenty inches in the digester in a very short time, and afterthis has been secured I cutoff the steam and open the valve in thewater-supply pipe V and maintain the exhauster in operation by the useof waterin it as long as the digestion continues. The watercondenses allthe noxious gases, and as discharged from the exhauster it is pure andinodorous and may be delivered into a stream or other suitable 1ocalitywithout creating objections.

It will be understood that my digesters, tanks, &c., are provided withsuitable pressure and vacuum gages,safety-valves,or other devicesnecessary for the proper Working of the apparatus.

In the practical Working of my improved process for the reduction ofgarbage I fi-ll one of the digesters with the garbage to be treated,preferably only partially, and having closed the manholes I start theexhauster G "into operation by admitting steam to it through the pipe Vand opening the valve U. A vacuum is soon formed in the digester, andwhen this has attained a suitable degree I admit steam through the pipeP directlyinto' the lower end of the digester. The pipe P may extendinside the digester, being bent around the interiorand perforated. Theexhauster may be kept in operation forsome time after the admission ofthe steam, as con-- the exhauster may be continued in operation by steamduring the Whole cooking process,

or the steam maybe shut off and the exhauster operated by water. Thetime required for the requisite digestionror cooking of the garbage isvery much reduced by the employment of the vacuum, and consequently lessfuel is used. Steam may be admitted to the jacket H at any preferredpoint in the operation, even before the exhauster is started, and it maybe kept on during the whole operation or used in drying the solidmaterial. When the digestion has been properly performed, I start theexhauster D on the receiving-tank B and prod (me a vacuum there in. Thisexhauster may be operated by steam or by water or at first by steam andlater by water. I then open the valve J and permit the liquid substancestried out of the garbage to pass into the receiving-tank along with moreor less water or condensed steam,

the perforated plate 0 serving as a strainer to retain any solidmaterials in the digester. This operation can be also assisted byturning steam into the top ofthe digester through the pipe N, which asit condenses washes and permeates the garbage and facilitates theseparation of the 'liquidsfrom the solid materials. By either or both ofthese means the fluid or semitluid substances are allowed to fibw downinto'the tank B, and any solid or semisolid materials which will notpass through the strainer are finally removed through the manhole F in acondition more or less approaching entire dryness, according to thecharacter of the garbage operated on and the management of the process.The fats or grease may be discharged from the receiving tank or tanksinto any suitable vats orpackages for shipping through the valves Y,which permit also of the gradation of these products according to theirgravity. The water or condensed steam will be finally discharged throughthe pipe K.

In consequence of the use of the vacuum the water and grease areinodorous,all noxious gases and vapors having been removed and thesematerials having been maintained at a comparatively high temperatureduring the process of the removal of such gases, thereby preventingabsorption; 7

' The exhaustion of the digester may be produced by the exhauster D onthe receivingtank, and in that case all the digestion or cooking may bedone by steam admitted above the garbage, so that the water and greaseare drawn down into the receivingtank by the vacuum as thedigestionproceeds and the solid material may be thoroughly dried in thedigester.

The advantages of my invention are that by using the vacuum before thesteam is ad mitted the time required for the cooking or digestion isreduced by more than half, with a consequent large saving of labor andfuel. The capacity of an apparatus of a given size is also materiallyincreased, a smaller number of digesters being required to handle anygiven amount of garbage or other similar material. The operation is alsopractically odorless, since the gases or odor-producing substances areremoved from the garbage by the vacuum before the admission of thesteam, which drives off such materials freely in the ordinary manner ofdigestion. The gases in the air discharged by the exhauster arethoroughly condensed by the jet or stream of water. The exhausters areconnected by suitable piping with a tank holding water under pressure,and the water is delivered into the exhausters through the valve U andoperates not only to produce the vacuum, but also to condense andneutralize the various vapors and odors produced during the digestion.

In order to thoroughly dry the solid material left in the digester, Ideliver a current of heated air or other gases into the digester,preferably through the pipe P, which maybe fitted with suitable valvesand connections for this purpose, while the vacuum is preferablymaintained in the receiving-tank. The air or gases may be heated in anysuitable or preferred way or the products of combustion of any suitablefuel or furnace may be employed or the hot air or gases may be admittedat the top of the digester to dry the solid material, the passagebetween the digester and the tank being open and the vacuum maintainedin the tank, and while such heated air or gases may be introduced intothe digester by a suitable blower or other pressure-producing device itis preferable to draw them through by means of a partial vacuum. By thismeans the solid residue left from the digestion of the garbage may berecovered quickly and cheaply in an entirely dry and inodorouscondition. It maybe used as a fertilizer alone or mixed with phosphateor otherwise prepared, as may be desired.

In order to facilitate the separation of the liquid or semiliquidsubstances fromthe relatively non-liquid or solid materials which remainin the lower part of the digester, it is desirable to form passages insuch solid materials through which the liquids may be discharged. Forthis purpose I employ the perforated pipes Z, hereinbeforedescribed,which pipes may be removed through the manhole along with theremaining solid materials and replaced before the digester is againfilled for another cooking operation. These drainagepipes are formedwith conical or pointed tops, which facilitate the passage of the solidmaterial down around them, it being easier for the material to pass apointed top than a blunt top.

I have already mentioned that I may use the exhausters with steam aloneor with water alone or first with steam and later with water.

I may also use the exhausters as shown in Fig. 6, in which one isarranged to condense the exhaust from another which is operated bysteam. In this case the water-operated ex hauster O is preferablysomewhat larger than the steam-exhauster O and it is attached to itsexhaust-pipe, as shown. It is connected by suitable piping with a tankcontaining Water under pressure and receives the gases or vapors drawnfrom the digester or the receivingtank by the steam-operated exhauster.These gases are condensed by the water-exhauster, the discharge fromwhich is entirely harmless and may be delivered directly into anysuitable locality without offense. This arrangement may also be usedduring the dryin-g operation.

It will be understood that under certain circumstances the cooking maybe performed by the steam-jacket alone, which may be applied to thebottom of the tank, if preferred. It will also be obvious that insteadof an exhauster on the digester operated by steam or water twoexhausters may be used thereon, one for steam and the other for water.Any of the exhausters may also be operated by water alone. During thedrying operation the vacuum is preferably maintained by the use of waterin the exhauster. It will further be understood that myimprovedrendering apparatus is capable of being used in diiferent ways-forinstance, as an ordinary digester entirely closed and receiving steam atthe bottom-the material in the digester being treated under pressure, asusual, and for this purpose the pipes Y, Fig. 1, through which thegrease is drawn olf, are brought into use, and it may also be used inconnection with the exhauster on the top of the digester, the cookingbeing done at a low temperature with a more or less complete vacuum inthe digester or with pressure therein, according as the relations of thesteam-supply with the rate of the exhaustion are regulated. Thus with asmall supply of steam and a large volume of exhaustion the vacuum willbe more or less fully maintained and the cooking will be performed atacomparatively low temperature, and by varying these two factors anyintermediate temperature and pressure may be obtained up to the fullpressure of the steam entering the lower part of the digester, theexhaust then being reduced so as to only carry off the gases or vaporsproduced. In washing or flushing the cooked material with steam admittedat the top, the digester being open into the exhausted receiving-tank,any pressure in the digester will be avoided, as it is merelya waste ofsteam.

By the use of my improved apparatus provided with the means of reducingthe pressureI am enabled to treat four or five batches of garbage intwenty-four hours with a great saving of fuel and labor.

I claim IIS 1. The combination with the digester provided with thestrainer at its lower end and upright perforated drainage-tubes on thesaid strainer, having conical upper ends, of the steam-supply pipesconnected toits upper and lower portions respectively, the exhauster onthe digester, the receiving-tank and the exhauster on the tank, as andfor the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with the digester arranged to be heated by steam, ofthe steamexhauster and the water-jet exhauster arranged to receive andcondense the exhaust from the steam-exhauster, as and for the purposesset forth.

3. The combination with the digester arranged to be heated by steam, ofthe steameXhauster and the Water-jet exhauster arranged to receive andcondense the exhaust from the steam-exhauster, and the receivingtank andmeans for producing a vacuum therein, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination with the digester arranged to be heated by steam, ofthe steamexhauster and the Water-jet exhauster ar ranged to receive andcondense the exhaust from the steam-exhauster, and the receiving tankprovided with the steam-exhauster and the water-jet exhauster applied tothe exhaust thereof, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination with the digester arranged to be heated by steam, aperforated false bottom in said digester, and perforated upright pipeshaving conical upper ends, of the exhauster adapted to be operated bysteam or Water, and suitable steam or water supply pipes, substantiallyas described.

6. The combination with the digester provided with the perforated falsebottom, of the upright perforated drainage-tubes having conical upperends, andthe supporting-footpiece, substantially as described.

HASOAL A. I-IOGEL.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. GILLETTE, JOSEPH E. SUMMERHAYS.

